TERN South East Queensland Peri-urban SuperSite - Karawatha Forest - Australia

33 PPBio LTER plots have been installed in a 500m systematic grid arrangement (Hero et al., 2010)

The plot system consists of an evenly distributed grid ensuring independence between plot locations. The plot system is opportunistically located to maximize spacing between plot locations and the overall position of the plot system within the area.

A 250 meter transect is established at each plot location with transect points at every 10 meters. Transect points are permanently marked with use of a large metal peg of about 60cm driven into the ground leaving about 10cm above the surface. Flagging tape is attached to a tree branch or similar as close as possible to the marker for ease of locating the metal peg. The location of each transect point is recorded using GPS co-ordinates.

The transect is created to follow the isoclines of the topography in such that all the transect points in a transect are of the same altitude. The height is accurately determined by use of an inclinometer to find a point of the same height located at 10m distance from the last transect point. The transect effectively winds its way around the contours of the landscape following areas of similar height. The transect is positioned in such a way as to not cross any boundaries such as paths, roads or fences that may create discontinuity within the transect. Where there are no boundaries or barriers preventing otherwise, each transect is to run in the direction closest to due east from the first transect point to maintain distances between transects.

The transect width is varied to suit the taxon being examined, small and/or numerous taxa are surveyed in narrow transects while wide transects are used for larger or more dispersed organisms. Identification of the boundary of the transect can be aided with flagging tape for searches of mobile organisms or with string line for surveys of sessile organisms. The width of the transect is the total width from one edge to the other.

Integrated, standardised long-term ecological research plots (LTER?s based on a 5km x 5km grid of trails, with 30 permanent terrestrial plots, and any number of permanent aquatic plots (depending on available water courses, etc.). Each plot is a strip transect (250m long by 42m wide) that follows the topographic contours (Fig. 1). The width of plot is 21m wide either side of, and perpendicular to, the plot midline. This includes a 1m wide buffer strip on either side of the midline designed to concentrate impacts within this zone and minimise trampling within the study plot. Therefore each survey plot is 1ha, with a length of 250m and a total effective width of 40m. This design minimizes variation in altitude, soil types, topography, and plant structure and composition within each plot (Magnusson et al 2013).


For site details see:
Hero, J.-M, J. G. Castley, M. Malone, B. Lawson & W. E. Magnusson. 2010. Long-term ecological research in Australia: innovative approaches for future benefits. Australian Zoologist. 35:90-102.

For general methodology of RAPELD PPBio LTER plots see:
Magnusson, W. E., ?, J.-M. Hero, ? & C. Nunes da Cunha. 2013. Biodiversity and Integrated Environmental Monitoring. Attema Design. California, USA. ISBN # 978-85-65551-05-2